Every boy made haste to comply, so long as the supply of buckets held out; and those who failed to secure one hung on the tracks of another more lucky, waiting to claim it for the second filling.
The scene became an animated one indeed, with those khaki-clad lads climbing up the hill, empty buckets in hand; and carefully lowering themselves again when the wooden receptacles had been filled with the clear and cold liquid.
Of course the official photographer had to snap off several views of the busy scene, and every scout who had carried his camera along followed suit. It was a "dandy" picture, as William declared, and would hardly be equalled during the entire course of their tour.
"Say, just fancy that old elephant and that camel taken in connection with us scouts!" gur
gled Bobolink, as he turned his camera loose, and once more looked for a chance to seize some fellow's bucket.
"Not to mention the cages of ferocious wild beasts yonder, and the ladies of the circus taking cups of water right from our hands as though they were really tamed. It's going to be the biggest card we ever met up with," and William thumped himself proudly on the chest as he spoke.
But Paul was thinking of other things. That picture would be mute evidence of the new spirit that had taken lodgment in the breasts of those Stanhope lads, connected with the scout movement. There they would appear, as busy as beavers, doing a real good turn in quenching the thirst of all those poor animals that had been traveling over the dusty road since the show closed in the other town.
It would need no explanation, for Paul believed any one could read between the lines, and understand.
Their half hour was lengthened to a full one, owing to this unexpected delay. When the caravan finally meandered along the road, and the members of the circus gave a cheer for the boys on the hillside, Paul believed that the additional time had been well spent.
And not one single badge now remained upside-